Just my (non-spoiler) immediate thoughts, but generally opening it up for discussion ...

As someone who likes the books and didn't love or hate season 1 of the show, though I definitely found it frustrating, I found myself happy to be back in this world again more than I thought I would. The actors, colors and look and feel of the world are probably a big factor here. I think I liked the characters more than I'd realised and that it is ultimately some form of the Foundation world, again, more than I'd appreciated.

I'm still struggling with how much stuff is being packed in and feeling frustrated that they're going to stretch out the whole thing with a lot of drama that I'm not terribly excited about. I'm also dubious on the show's ability to actually do drama. Too often it feels like it's fumbling or presenting something that's too hollow or contrived.

But overall, we've got a time jump and the pervasive sense of history that the books provided is finally present. And I'm not hating that we have characters that have found a way to come along through time with us, especially the emperors. I can maybe see a way that the things laid down in S1 will develop in ways analogous to some of the things that happened in the books, and am quietly optimistic to see how that goes.

I wasn't expecting to want to watch this season, but, for me, S2E1 did enough to make me go "ok, I'll keep watching".

Anyone else see the episode?